I have just finished The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The novel was fine, a bit mediocre. The prose made getting engaged in the story difficultI have just finished The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The novel was fine, a bit mediocre. The prose made getting engaged in the story difficult. The writing was too dry and minimalistic for its good. The characters were nothing more than ink on a page at times. There was no exploration of emotions or even scenery, for that matter. It was not too dissimilar to the feeling one gets when someone retells a story secondhand. Like you were a distant bystander watching a couple, you barely know fight and argue like mad.
There is an apparent technical writing prowess in Hemingway’s writing and a definite love and expertise in bullfighting. However, the novel is too dry and unemotional to resonate with me. There is no flowery prose or elaborate metaphors to analyze. The plot is uninteresting. It is about a group of “friends� visiting Spain for a fiesta. A love triangle brews between the only woman in the group and a few men. One includes a Jewish man who none of the characters seem to like. He is also subject to a few anti-Semitic remarks that remind me why nazism so quickly gained a foothold in Europe.
Hemingway’s iceberg theory style of writing fails in a tale that requires one to be invested in the characters. I suspect his writing style shines in his later books, which feature more action-oriented storylines. In a war story or a novella about fishing, the detached prose would fit, but here, where there is only bullfighting and emotions, the style falls flat. I don’t doubt Hmeingway’s talent and will give him the benefit of the doubt. Since this was the first novel we ever wrote. Many writers are still trying to find themselves in their first published outings.
While I read this novel, my attention tended to wander, and every line of dialogue started to sound weirder than the next, despite Hemingway’s intent of writing a natural conversation. The prose, with its lack of flair, got tedious, and I started to wonder why the writing was castrated like the narrator. It is experimental and does work for newspapers and articles (which Hemingway used to write before becoming a novelist), so I do commend him. However, I can’t say wholeheartedly that I liked this book, nor will I recommend it to others. Perhaps Hemingway’s other works suit me better....more
The Bluest Eye is the first published novel by Toni Morrison and is the first Toni Morrison novel I have read. I don't remember why I picked this one The Bluest Eye is the first published novel by Toni Morrison and is the first Toni Morrison novel I have read. I don't remember why I picked this one as my first Morrison, but this is an excellent introduction to her work. It's very short; my edition was around 160 pages, Though I suppose the prose and complexity of the compact book may turn some away. The Bluest Eye is significant in the conversation of race and Euro-centric beauty standards and portrays the dark sides of a community.
The prose is very poetic and haunting at times. The vivid images Morrison draws through her words range from the beautiful to the grotesque. Every word has intention, mainly adding to the tone and bleak atmosphere of the novel. This is a tragedy told not through the eyes of the central character, Pecola, but rather through an in-depth examination of the community and those around Pecola that births her tragedy. It does a fantastic job of going through other characters' psyches and backstories to explain their choices and actions.
My main criticism of The Bluest Eye is the treatment of Pecola. She never feels like a human being; instead, she feels like a plot device for the themes, a pathetic little thing with no agency or key traits that make her a character. Morrison seems uninterested in her at points, often explaining other characters' feelings and backstories before we know anything about Pecola. At the end of the novel, she remains one of the least interesting characters besides Claudia, one of the narrators.
However, I can see how this can be interpreted as an intentional narrative decision rather than a lack of interest. Yet, I can't help but feel if we were given full access to Pecola's head and read through the intricacies of her psyche, the tragedy would've been even more impactful. Every book has flaws, and The Bluest Eye is no exception. It is still a worthwhile book, and I strongly encourage others to pick it up. The message it tells is haunting and remains tragically true. For that reason alone, the book is worth much praise....more
Ariel, the Restored Edition, is the first poetry collection of Sylvia Plath I have read. I read her unabridged journals and her classic novel The BellAriel, the Restored Edition, is the first poetry collection of Sylvia Plath I have read. I read her unabridged journals and her classic novel The Bell Jar, but besides what poems were in her journals, I have never read her poetry before. The poetry in Ariel is raw, intense, and vivid. Each poem shows its unique life, death, motherhood, or the dark sides that only Plath can make verses about. Her imagery is haunting and beautiful. You feel how she poured her soul into each line and each word. The poetry of Plath is utterly brilliant in its use of simple metaphors to convey complex ideas about death, hatred, and love.
My favorite poems in the collection were Lady Lazarus, Daddy, The Swarm, and of course, Ariel. Each shows the variety of themes and interests within Plath's industry, from the themes of death and rebirth in Lady Lazarus to Daddy's exploration of a woman trying to reconcile her image of her father with his past. With its eerily metaphors and, I almost want to say, abstract imagery, Plath takes us into her world of poetry, taking to the darkest corners of the human psyche. The Restored Edition sends you on a labyrinth that challenges and asks questions you may never asked yourself before.
Many say the poetry within Ariel was deeply personal to Sylvia Plath; most of the poems were written during the most tumultuous time in her life. I find this adds some context to the more intense poems and adds depth to poems like Lesbos, which is about a couple Plath lived near. One should still read her poetry without delving too much into Plath's personal life. We will never fully understand why every poem was written and what they were specifically. Nor should we focus too much on the emotional aspects of her poetry. As with any art and artist, I believe a degree of separation is required. But overall, Ariel the Restored Edition is a masterful collection of one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, and I can’t wait to read more of Plath’s writing....more
Mrs. Dalloway, what a lovely novel. Woolf has irrevocably changed the way I read and write. A narrative about a day in a woman's life that touches upoMrs. Dalloway, what a lovely novel. Woolf has irrevocably changed the way I read and write. A narrative about a day in a woman's life that touches upon the themes of life, relationships, society, love, and a longing for the past. All done so eloquently and elegantly with lyrical prose. Clarissa Dalloway, Septimus Warren Smith, Peter Walsh, Rezia, and Sally were fully fleshed out with their own fears, dreams, and hopes. The novel isn't straightforward, which could be a negative to some, but I adored it. The book wasn't willing to give simple answers to the questions it raised. What was Clarissa and Sally's relationship? Why did Septimus kill himself? Is Peter still in love with Clarissa? Just like the questions were left ambiguous. Leaving much to the reader's interpretation.
In terms of my subjective opinions of Mrs. Dalloway, I absolutely loved it. I will reread it immediately to engross myself in that day of Clarissa's life entirely. I want to utter, fully know the work like the back of my hand. Know its little ins and outs, the small nuances I missed on my first read-through. The novel is challenging for those not used to stream-of-consciousness and complex imagery. For me, the book was surprisingly easy to read at points; I absorbed each and every word inked on the page.
An intricate waltz through time and memory. It leaves you wondering for answers, but akin the life's greatest mysteries, the novel offers no such thing. Come to your interpretation and conclusions. Embrace the ambiguities of life and Woolf's prose. She dives into the depths of the human consciousness and pulls you in with her. Feeling as if you were there with Clarissa walking the London streets....more
I finally finished reading Eileen after so many days and procrastination. Though it may be too high of a score, I rated it three stars on GoodReads. II finally finished reading Eileen after so many days and procrastination. Though it may be too high of a score, I rated it three stars on GoodReads. I like the first fifty pages or so. I found the narration and how Moshfegh gets you in the mind space of the main character greatly engrossing. However, nothing happened for the next fifty pages, creating a hundred pages of a woman acting so disgusting and weird when doing mostly normal things. When Rebecca was introduced, things started to pick up, but Eileen’s relationship with Rebecca felt unrealistic and happened too fast.
Then the final part of the book was horrid. Why would Rebecca completely trust her to help her do something incredibly illegal when they barely knew each other for a few days? Moshfegh should have introduced Rebecca earlier and gotten rid of the whole thing of the book taking place in a week. If she set up their relationship earlier and shown a greater passage of time, then their relationship wouldn’t feel so unrealistic. Additionally, it made zero sense why Rebecca cared about Lee Polk so much. She barely started her job. I sincerely believe the book is in need of a major rewrite....more
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